The 70e edition of the Quebec Carnival, the biggest winter carnival in the world, ends this weekend. And such an event pollutes! Bonhomme and his team have found solutions to make the festivities more eco-friendly. We present some of them to you.
What is the Quebec Carnival?
It is an 18-day event that takes place every winter throughout Quebec City. There are all kinds of activities: sliding, climbing and even an ice canoe race! All this presided over by the Carnival mascot: Bonhomme.
For a more responsible Carnival
The event attracts approximately 500,000 visitors each year, half of whom come from outside Quebec. All these people have to go to the site, eat, find accommodation… and it pollutes!
It is also necessary to heat the kiosks and attractions. For that, we have to use thousands of liters of diesel and propane… another big environmental concern.
To offset its greenhouse gas emissions, here is what the Quebec Carnival has decided to do.
● Donate money to Carbone Scol’ERE, a program to help primary school students adopt ecological habits.
● Make visitors aware of the correct ways to sort waste. Last year, 200 liters of compostable materials were collected!
● Reuse equipment, such as panels and decorations, as much as possible from one year to the next.
● Encourage local purchases.
● Review the construction of the ice palace to reduce the amount of water used.
Wait a minute… Man is turning green?
It’s an expression ! Green is the color of ecology. So, rest assured, Bonhomme Carnaval is still all white! He is said to be getting greener because his suit is now more environmentally friendly.
Eh yes ! For several years, it has been made with recycled materials from sugar shacks in Quebec. The raw material for Bonhomme’s costume: the tubing. These are pipes, often blue, which are used to collect maple sap.
We wonder if Bonhomme smells like maple syrup!
Lysiane Alexandre, collaborator, based on an article by Sébastien Tanguay, Pôle Environnement, Le Devoir
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